Tributes have been paid to the much-loved course manager at Hinckley Golf Club who was found dead after apparently being hit by a falling branch.

The body of Dougie Johnstone, who was believed to be in his late 50s, was found on the course on Saturday morning.

It is thought Mr Johnstone was out working on storm damaged trees on Friday when he was injured by the branch and his body wasn’t discovered until the following morning.

Golf club member and former honorary secretary Alan Millhouse, who described Mr Johnstone affectionately as a “burly Scotsman” said: “He had been there for two-and-a-half years.

“He had big plans for developing the course - to make it the course to play on in Leicestershire. He worked his socks off. He was a really nice bloke.

“He was around all the time. It’s an absolute tragedy.”

Mr Johnstone was one of a number of people who applied for the job of course manager at Hinckley Golf Club.

He had previously worked as senior greenkeeper at Wentworth.

Mr Millhouse added: “We were lucky to get him.

“He came with a lot of experience and improved the look of the course and the greens but he had all these plans for making it even better.”

Mr Johnstone, who lived in a bungalow on the site, gave a talk about his vision for the club in September.

One of the directors at Hinckley Golf Club, Stuart Purt, said: “The guy was fantastic both inside and outside of work. His work ethic was second to none and he would work all hours God sent to do a really good job at the course.

“He was committed to making the course a much better place.

“During his last talk at the AGM he spoke a lot about plans to improve the course, including massive plans for the second hole.

“He arranged for us to take a lot of the soil from the neighbouring David Wilson home site. It’s come straight onto the golf course so we could landscape the second hole.

“He also set up a big lake at the back of the 17th hole and again the water came off the housing estate. It’s like a wildlife sanctuary.

“It was absolutely lovely what he did - he spent so much time on it.

He was such a nice man and really cared about his job.”

Stuart said the golf club would continue to use Dougie’s ideas to improve the course. He added: “We have had the drawings made up so we will make sure that they are implemented.”

A statement from Hinckley Golf Club said: “Since joining the club in 2011 Mr Douglas Johnstone “Dougie” had become a key member of staff and well respected by both the members and his colleagues at the club.

“He had been the main reason for the vast improvement of the course condition bringing up to a standard way and above expectations.

“He bought with him his vast experience at his previous clubs of which one was Wentworth GC, and for this we will be forever indebted to him. At this point all the members, staff and club officials thoughts are with his wife Sue and his family following this tragic event.”

A spokesperson from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council said: “The police cordoned off an area in Burbage Common because the incident happened near to the boundary of Burbage Common.

“The council, through it’s own Health and Safety department, will be carrying out it’s own investigation following the events over the weekend.”

A spokesperson from Leicestershire Police said: “Officers were called to Hinckley Golf Club at around 7.30am on Saturday December 28 2013 following the discovery of a man’s body.